Police officers attached to Otuocha Area command were allegedly attacked by hoodlums led by one CHIZOBA, an indigene of Umueri who owns one of the biggest drug camps in Anambra East during an operation in Umuleri, a community in Anambra State.
Responding, the CSO of Umuleri vigilante group, popularly known as Omor Fry said security were following a lead on the suspected drug dealer, Chizoba who according to him is the owner of one of the biggest drug camps in Anambra East, where over 20 suspected armed criminals usually assemble before taking off for their criminal operations.
Omor Fry added that when police arrived at the scene in the afternoon on Wednesday, 10th July 2024, the suspect called for reinforcement, alleging he was being robbed by police.
According to a statement made available to the press, on Wednesday, police officers attached to Otuocha Area command were on Wednesday afternoon following a lead on the suspect when he (suspect) called for backup, claiming he was being robbed by police.
The CSO in a statement said, “This led to a violent attack on the officers and their car was also damaged.” while the hoodlums blocked the major road.
" The person that his shop was raided is not bold enough to come up with his complain. We the indigenes of Umueri are aware of the criminal activities going on in the place and we have challenged the shop owner to come out of his hiding place if he claims to be innocent".
" We want him to also take an oath that he doesn't habour criminals in the place but he is still on the run".
"It is very possible that the men of Area command could had infringed on the fundamental rights of some citizens in the course of discharging their duties in the past but not on this particular incident".
Some of the items recovered during the raid include: bags of Indian hemp, colos, tramadols,meth(mkpulummili), etc.
However, in a viral video that was seen on the social media, the youths were protesting the illegal arrest by the men of the Area command team and blocked the Oyeagu-Otuocha express road.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam has called for calm and urged citizens to utilize the channels of the complaint against Police Officers rather than being unruly as seen in the video blocking the express road thereby Infringing on the fundamental rights of others which is the very course citizens want to protect and seek for Police that is civil and professional in discharging their duties.
Photos of the recovered items :